Steel/Ti Bike Advice

[DRZRM]

If I were you, I'd look into used ti. $3,500 won't get you on a Moots Routt (unless you get lucky) but it will get you on almost anything else if it come up in your size used. The indestructibility of ti is fairly spot on, and even on disc frames (which are all the rage) it does not really retain resale all that well. Unless you ride a very strange shaped custom, I would put my money on someone else's ti frame, people here burn through nice bikes.

What size are you looking for?

[Fixed]

Not all steel Or titanium bikes ride alike The Builder can Make as big a difference as material used .
Imho
Cheers

[denvervig]

Originally Posted by DRZRM

If I were you, I'd look into used ti. $3,500 won't get you on a Moots Routt (unless you get lucky) but it will get you on almost anything else if it come up in your size used. The indestructibility of ti is fairly spot on, and even on disc frames (which are all the rage) it does not really retain resale all that well. Unless you ride a very strange shaped custom, I would put my money on someone else's ti frame, people here burn through nice bikes.

What size are you looking for?

Agree with that recommendation as that was my proof of concept approach - found a '95 Merlin frameset from the original owner at a fraction of the cost of new and built it up - two years later I have not found a reason to get rid of it even though I don't know what I'm missing...

[SteveW]

i'd consider a Desalvo. Excellent craftsmanship and a builder's special in steel is $4500 for a full ultegra build that clears at least a 700x 40c
As posted by livesadventure

[fignon's barber]

It's not the material that creates the ride, it's the builder and his design. For example, I've got an aluminum bike built by the guy who made the majority of bikes used in the Tour when aluminum was in fashion with the marketing folks. It rides as smoothly as any steel frame.
I chuckle when guys over 50 buy Ti road bikes over steel because "they'll last a lifetime". At this point, if your steel frame won't last "a lifetime", you're considering the wrong builder.

[skiezo]

There are plenty of builders that can get you close to that budget. I would go with a steel combo like SS CS and DT and steel seat stays seat tube and TT.
The CS and DT are the two that take the most abuse off road.

[jpw]

Originally Posted by SteveW

i'd consider a Desalvo. Excellent craftsmanship and a builder's special in steel is $4500 for a full ultegra build that clears at least a 700x 40c
As posted by livesadventure

What is a Desalvo "Builders Special"?

https://www.desalvocycles.com/buildquote

[robt57]

Originally Posted by prototoast

Titanium won't provide you with an improved ride quality compared to steel as a general matter. Titanium mostly provides durability (dents less easily, doesn't rust, no paint to chip) which many people find desirable, but as far as ride quality, that's not what you're paying for with titanium.

Agree, And factor in a Powder coated steel frame repair VS a nude Ti frame unless wet painted. If that is a box that needs checking for you.

If you want improved ride quality, concentration on your wheels/tires, more likely to net returns in this dept anyway. Most likely really, once geom is correctly in your window.

My most significant spend in embellishing ride quality was putting tubeless tubular 30mm on XTR CX low profile rim carbon wheels on the 2019 Helix Disc I was not feeling particularly fuzzy about previously.

Not to mention 'ALL Road' by design which tend to fit a huge choice of fatter and 650b wheels/tires has huge potential for ride quality embellishment where the rubber meets the road.

If ride quality is the top box that needs to be checked for what is trying to be attained, consider this point IMO.

[arimajol]

Originally Posted by prototoast

Titanium won't provide you with an improved ride quality compared to steel as a general matter. Titanium mostly provides durability (dents less easily, doesn't rust, no paint to chip) which many people find desirable, but as far as ride quality, that's not what you're paying for with titanium.

This is so interesting, and valuable real world perspective folks seem to be agreeing with. Compare this to this quote on titanium from Honey:
"Smoothest ride. Takes the edge of rough roads and trails better than any other material -- including steel. Steel is a close second to titanium but cannot match titanium. Aluminum is harsh. Carbon has to be stiff/harsh in order to not come apart."

Do people rave about ti's ride when they come to it from Al and carbon, but are lukewarm on it coming from steel? As a rider of steel contemplating a ti future, i want more perspectives on this.

[jkbrwn]

I came from steel to Ti. I think the different in ride characteristics is quite noticeable. I paid for custom Ti over custom steel this time around because of it's long life and it seemed like the next logical step for me, however ride quality was absolutely a factor.

To me, it *is* smoother than any steel frames I've ridden, however, there are simply too many variables to say: 'yes, it's smoother because it's Ti'. I definitely feel fresher after riding for the same amount of time on my Ti bike as I did steel, despite having skinnier tyres. But the fit is better, I now have a Ti seatpost I'm using a different spoke count, different rims etc etc etc.

With that said, I absolutely feel that the fact it's Ti absolutely has something to do with it's ride quality. Also, the fact that I, along with Seven, specced how I wanted the bike to ride.

FWIW, Seven frames aren't as expensive as you're seeing. The photo below is fairly accurate, but I recently paid less than that through a dealer for my 'S level' Seven.

I am about to sell a steel all road frameset built by London's Talbot Frameworks (now called Isen Workshop) with Parlee disc gravel fork in a 54cm size. No idea what size you're looking for but perhaps something to consider.
Can send more info if you're interested. Takes a 40mm tyre front and rear. Looking for $1k net to me. Here's a photo.

[rnr]

Originally Posted by jkbrwn

I am about to sell a steel all road frameset built by London's Talbot Frameworks (now called Isen Workshop) with Parlee disc gravel fork in a 54cm size. No idea what size you're looking for but perhaps something to consider.
Can send more info if you're interested. Takes a 40mm tyre front and rear. Looking for $1k net to me. Here's a photo.

Definitely interested. Can you send details?

[jkbrwn]

Originally Posted by rnr

Definitely interested. Can you send details?

I can't as you're too new here so I cannot message you in any way, nor can you message me.

Feel free to email me on.

[robt57]

Originally Posted by arimajol

Steel is a close second to titanium but cannot match titanium.

As a rider of steel contemplating a ti future, i want more perspectives on this.

In a Nut shell?

My Custom Strong All Road steel frame [a 60CM pretty much] is 4lb, steel fork 1.6lb with cut steerer. Not a weight brag, but rather to point out the dialed in tool for my task by a experienced builder for a frame with not an oz. of extra metal, nor to little for my weight/size/power. Helix disc frame is a touch heavier FWIW. Helix has a Enve fork ans is 1/2 lb lighter, and not nearly as lively feeling frankly.

This Strong bike with 28s in road mode VS any one of my several Ti bikes in the road feel dept., rides very very well. The difference I'd say in this high end custom steel vibration abating road buzz is just a case of a different frequency of the buzz that comes thru one VS the other.

Match Ti at what? New Ti folks, or initial Ti rider sometimes notice this difference in feel and perceive it as better. IMO it really is 'not' per se.

Again, Tire/wheels is going to be the deciding factor, correct geometry in the bag of course.

Helix Disk Pro Road with 30mm tubular @ 65 PSI rides as well as the Stong with Latex and 38mm open clincher Soma Supple Vitese tires with latex tubes at same pressures. A threshold passed one can assume. I prefer pushing the 30mm tubulars around on paved roads for 3-4 hours over the 38s hand down. When dong the go fast thing to clarify.

[weisan]

I most importantly want a bike that will make me happy and last a long time.

Go custom.

Pick a reputable framebuilder like David Kirk (steel), Seven (Ti).

[Hilltopperny]

Having owned gravel bikes in every metal material I can say that titanium is a little less maintenance and mine survived a nasty crash at speed on pavement without a ding. I am pretty sure if the same happened on my steel or aluminum bikes they would have had at the very least a few scratches and dings.

Titanium is typically a little lighter than steel and you can definitely get a Lynskey for a very reasonable price. The lightest non carbon bike in this genre I owned was an aluminum Zanconato. I wouldn’t necessarily discount a well made aluminum bike either as you will be running fat rubber and they still feel pretty snappy.


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